Learning Processes in the Field of Electricity: Results of a Cross Age Study.

Over the past 10 years, numerous empirical investigations of learning in physics have been carried out at the Institute of Physics Education (IPE) at the University of Bremen in Germany. The objectives of these investigations were: (1) to describe in detail individual learning processes; (2) to construct theoretical principles of individual learning processes at different age levels; and (3) to test curriculum based on the work of the first two objectives. The studies were grounded in a situated cognition framework. According to situated cognition theory, knowledge is ultimately grounded in each individual's actions with the material and the social world. On the basis of empirical studies at several age levels, a detailed framework that includes operationalizations for levels of situated learning was developed. This framework allows for quantification of certain aspects of the development of situated cognition in terms of complexity. It provides perspectives for a better understanding of learning and teaching processes and an improvement in curriculum design. Contains 42 references. (Author/PVD)